HIGHLIGHTS
Pending favorable weather conditions, the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew is set to undock from the International Space Station no earlier than Monday, July 14, at 7:05 a.m. ET. Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla, and Mission Specialists Sławosz “Suave” Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu are making the most of their final days on orbit, pushing forward a wide range of experiments that could shape the future of space exploration and improve life on Earth.
RESEARCH
After a well-deserved off-duty day, Peggy Whitson led the crew through another busy day of scientific research aboard the space station.
Shux worked on the microalgae experiment, deploying and stowing samples that could one day provide food, oxygen, and biofuels for deep space missions. Their resilience makes them a promising asset for sustaining life beyond Earth.
The crew continued the Voyager Displays study, which examines how spaceflight affects eye movement and coordination.
Meanwhile, Tibor observed the Fruit Fly DNA Repair experiment, helping researchers understand how radiation impacts genetic integrity and how we might protect human DNA in space.
Tibor conducted a fluid dynamics experiment for the Shear Instabilities study, injecting tracers into spinning water to simulate atmospheric phenomena like Saturn’s North Polar Hexagon. These insights could enhance both planetary science and climate modeling.
For the Neuromotion VR study, crew donned virtual reality headsets and neural monitoring caps to assess how microgravity influences attention, motor skills, and stress responses.
Tibor also harvested samples for the VITAPRIC experiment, which grows nutrient-rich plants that could feed astronauts and inform sustainable agriculture on Earth.
The crew collected data for the ENPERCHAR study, exploring how astronauts perceive and interact with their environment on orbit—critical for designing mentally supportive habitats for long-duration missions.
Another study focused on cerebral blood flow, investigating how microgravity and elevated CO₂ levels affect cardiovascular function, which could later benefit both astronauts and patients on Earth.
Radiation exposure was monitored using the compact Rad Nano Dosimeter, a tool for assessing astronaut safety.
The crew took part in the Acquired Equivalence Test, a cognitive experiment that measures learning and adaptability in space, and supported the PhotonGrav study by collecting brain activity data to explore neuroadaptive technologies for space and medical applications.
Finally, a neuromuscular electrical stimulation session was conducted to counteract muscle loss in microgravity — an important step toward maintaining astronaut health during extended stays on orbit.
OUTREACH
Tomorrow, the crew will join CNN International for an exclusive interview about the Ax-4 mission. The segment will air on Monday, July 14 during the 4:00 p.m. ET hour.
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